Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-09-23
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Fall Account OF the Crime for which
Editor Lewis. OF M%iibank, Dakota,
was Arrested,
Phiiadelphia special: Regarding the
Lewis case, the Press says that away
back in 1876, Fl. =. Volkmar, alias
Charles 81. Lewis, bright, enterprislnR
aud we'll connected, Was engaged il
publishing . greepback weekly pt..,er IN
he third story of the Evening Star buiid-
slnX, on South Seventh street. Maj / of
sthnt year, ABOUT 1880 IN the morning., d
hte broke out on his floor, Lut the
prompt arrival OF the iremen preventeus
u greater damage tnan some lp1ary TO
4 oiku,afe machinef ny and the satnrating
sat theitioors below win water, Volkmsr's
u 5ss amounted, as adjusted, t 81, U29,
and was paid. by the insurance compan-
les, and he resume business. AT mid
night of Dec. 81, same year, fire again
broke ont IN Volkmars establishment.
inspector Hsuk, Of the gss office, and
Fire Marshal Thompson broke Ia the
doors and the fire was extinguished after.
y loss OF $4 600. MIR, Stubps AID his
wife. an elderly compile who Kept q res-
tnarant down STAIRS Were asleep in the
bulldog ct the time, but were gotten
out in safety. Fire Marshal Thompson,
while fighting the fire, discovered u fuse
similar to chose used In blasting extend
ing from the door to the center of the
rOonis where a board had been. pred up
and the end of the fuse arranged SO as to
bang slightly over the edge OF the plank,
Directly below it wat half q pound of
gun powder. The person who had
arranged the scheme intended that when
the fuse had burned the end part off it
should fall into the powder and, causing
an explosion. scatter the flames to all
| parts of the room. Volkmar was the
last man aeen coming out of the build
ing before the fire. He WAS arrested next
morning or q charge Of arson. Yolkmar
declared his innocence. There was an
insurance of $4,000 on his property, but
IT 10 said he received none of the money.
He had moved in society that made some
pretehse TO fashion. Some of his rela-
lives were persons of wealth and
Influence, and his arrest
awakened agood deal of indignation
among his friends. He was given q
hearing, and the charge being q. felony
he was committed TO prison without bail
A few days later his counsel had him ad.
mitted to bail in So 1000. His uncle, q
stove dealer entered security. Before
the Case came to trial Voiamar fled.
Suit was entered against his uncle for
the bail and Judgment was obtained
but was after wards set aside ON q tech
~nIcality. Nothing definite was heard by
the authorities here about Volkmar un-
til two weeks ago, when Fire Marshal
Tonpson received "tip" from a man
who had known she fugitive here, that
1 Yolkmar was then living in Milbank,
Dak., publishing . weekly paper called
the Grant County Review. Volkmar
sage the informant is employed in one
OF the banks at MIlkank ana is an enemy
of HE and gave him away to CRAFTY his
feelings of envy The fire marshal
Immediately turned oye his :inforfna-
ton to Detective Weyl. The latter
occurred the Necessary requisitlon
papers snd reached MIlkank eight
days ago. Deceive Weyl cautiously
inquired as TO the standing OF
ithe fugitive and learned that he
was, a. his enthusiastic informant told
him, -ths idol OF the town" and was
looked upon as the founder Of Milbank.
The detective, who has had a good deal
of experience: with western fngitives and
knowa the loyalty with which menson
the border stand by even criminals WHOM
they believed 60 have reformed, began
30 despair of getting his man away with.
out trouble, II at all. As soon as he ar.
rived at Milbank he went to Sheriff
Benediot's office and explained his BUSH
ness. want said he, 'sthis man
Yolkmar." Voikmars relatives here
have known all about his movements
for several years. and the person men
toned by Sheriff Benedict as. visiting
/ him was, it is Understood, q hall brother.
His aged mother joined him In his west-
ern home two years ago. She was very
frail; and his attentions TO her, it is said,
were toaching in their thoughtfulpess
She died In his home. He was met al
the station here last night by his sister
and his counsel. He said that the
knowledge thai he had Hsd had followed
him always, and thar he wished to face
the charge and have it OVER, He de.
elared that he was not guilty. Under
the advice OF ~hiscounsel he declined tc
make any statement.